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Steam Machines available to purchase by the end of January

Steam Machines will be launching at the end of this month. And at least one of them will include both Windows and SteamOS.

It's possible to have a Steam Machine run both SteamOS and Windows--it just isn't a particularlyeasy process to go through. While the notion of a Steam Machine with Windows is sort of self-defeating (you'll be able to play every Steam game on Windows, versus just a selection of Linux-compatible games on SteamOS), there's clearly some interest in making it happen.

Digital Storm has unveiled its Steam Machine: the Bolt II (pictured above)--a small form factor hybrid Steam Machine that features both SteamOS and Windows out-of-the-box. It's one of the many ways third-party manufacturers will attempt to differentiate their offering. However, one additional detail caught our attention: it will be available at the end of the month, likely in line with competing Steam Machines.

The Bolt II will go for $1899, which shows that Steam Machines won't necessarily be cheap. Of course, Digital Storm seems quite proud of their price tag: "We are not looking to compete with console pricing,” director of product development Rajeev Kuruppu said in a statement. Clearly, the statements means that some Steam Machines will be designed to compete with the $500 price point of the current-gen consoles.

Bolt II will be available at the end of this month, which suggests that the Steam Machine roll out is happening very soon.